Page 17 - Interface April Issue 2025

Teaching a technical language requires Therefore, it is the perfect complement Educators, as well as parents or guardians,
that educators be trained effectively to theoretical and practical learning at can play a crucial role in fostering the
in Coding and Robotics, and ongoing school or home. “Having the dictionary digital proficiency of learners by educating
professional development and support readily available boosts [learners’] and familiarising themselves with the
will be crucial to the success of learners confidence in understanding and language of Coding and Robotics through
studying the subject. “The technical applying coding concepts.” resources such as the Oxford Illustrated
vocabulary and abstract concepts can Coding and Robotics Dictionary and online
feel like a foreign language; terms like The introduction of Coding and Robotics platforms like Resolute Education’s Code
‘algorithm’, ‘variable’, and ‘loop’ often in South African public schools is the Nation.
overwhelm learners encountering necessary to equip our youth with the
them for the first time,” says Christo digital skills and proficiency already It is an investment in learners’ lives and
Spies, Grade 6 Educator and Coding required in most industries and sectors. the country’s digital economy.
and Robotics Subject Head at Curro
Durbanville. “The difficulty lies not just
in defining these terms but in helping
students understand how they work
together in coding.”

A deep understanding of algorithms,
abstract concepts, and related
principles helps learners solve problems
and think creatively. This foundational
knowledge provides learners with
the tools to apply computational
thinking (pattern recognition and
decomposition) and critical thinking
practically and effectively, which are
essential when coding and building
robots.

An analogue solution for a
digital challenge
The good news is that there is a
solution to support educators and
parents in teaching the technical
language of Coding and Robotics and
helping learners understand it. The
Oxford Illustrated Coding and Robotics
Dictionary, published in June 2024,
consists of specialist terminology from
the Coding and Robotics curricula for
the Foundation and Intermediate Phases
and related computing terminology in
everyday use.

“This resource allows students
to reference unfamiliar terms,
strengthening their technical vocabulary
and comprehension,” says Spies, editor
and co-contributor. The dictionary:
• simplifies complex ideas into
digestible explanations,
• presents definitions in simple
language with illustrations for better
comprehension and
• contains thematic content that
introduces learners to programming
languages and digital concepts.

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